Marg. Moral? no, by my troth, I have no moral meaning; I meant, plain holy-thistle. You may think, perchance, that I think you are in love: nay, by'r lady, I am not such a fool to think what I list; nor I list not to think what I can; nor, indeed, I caunot think, if I would think my heart out of thinking, that you are in love, or that you will be in love, or that you can be in love: yet Benedick was such another, and now is hebecome a man: heswore he would never marry; and yet now, in despite of his heart, he eats his meat without grudging:and how you may be converted, Iknownot;but methinks, you look with your eyes as other women do. Beat. Whatpace is this, that thy tongue keeps? Murg. Not a false gallop. Dogb. Marry, this it is, sir. Verg. Yes, intruth it is, sir. Leon. What is it, my good friends? Dogb. Goodman Verges, sir, speaks a little off the matter: an old man, sir, and his wits are not so blunt, as, God help, I would desire they were; but, in faith, honest as the skin between his brows. Verg. Yes, I thank God, I am as honest as any man living, that is an old man, and no honester than I. Dogb. Comparisons are odorous: palabras, neighbour Verges. Leon. Neighbours, you are tedious. Dogb. It pleases your worship to say so, but we are the poor duke's officers; but, truly, for mine own part, if I were as tedious as a king, I could find in my heart to bestow it all of your worship. Leon. Allthy tediousness on me! ha! Dogb. Yea, and 'twere a thousand times more than 'tis: for I hear as good exclamation on your worship, as of any man in the city; and though I be but a poor man, I am glad to hear it. Verg. And so am I. Leon. I would fain know what you have to say. Verg. Marry, sir, our watch to-night, excepting your worship's presence, have ta'en a couple of as arrant knaves as any in Messina. Dogb. A good old man, sir; he will be talking; as they say, When the ageis in, the wit is out; God help Dogb. One word, sir: our watch, sir, have indeed comprehended two auspicious persons, and we would have them this morning examined before your worship. Leon. Take their examination yourself, and bring it me; I am now in great haste, as it may appear unto you. Dogb. It shall be suffigance. Leon. Drink some wine ere you go; fare you well! Enter a Messenger. Mess. My lord, they stay for you to give your daughter to her husband. Leon. I will wait upon them; I am ready. [Exeunt Leonato and Messenger. Dogb. Go, good partner, go, get you to Francis Seacoal, bid him bring his pen and inkhorn to the gaol; we are now to examination these men. Verg. And we must do it wisely. Dogb.We will spare for no wit, I warrant you; here's that [Touching his forehead.] shall drive some of them to a non com: only get the learned writer to set down our excommunication, and meet me at the gaol. [Exeunt. ACTIV. SCENE I.- The inside of a church. Enter Don PEDRO, Don JOHN, LEONATO, Friar, CLAUDIO, BENEDICK, HERO, and BEATRICE, etc. Leon. Come, friar Francis, be brief; only to the plain form of marriage, and you shall recount their particular duties afterwards. Friar. You come hither, my lord, to marry this lady? Claud. No. Leon. To be married to her, friar; you come to marry her. Friar. Lady, you come hither to be married to this count? Hero. I do. Friar. If either of you know any inward impediment why you should not be conjoined, I charge you, on your souls, to utter it. Claud. Know you any, Hero? Hero. None, my lord. Friar. Know you any, count? Leon. I dare make his answer, none. Claud. O, what men dare do! what men may do! what men daily do! not knowing what they do! Bene. How now! Interjections? Why, then some be of laughing, as, ha! ha! he! Claud. Stand thee by, friar. -Father, by your leave; Will you with free and unconstrained soul Give me this maid, your daughter? Leon. As freely, son, as God did give her me. D. Pedro. Nothing, unless you render her again. Claud. Sweet prince, you learn me noble thankful ness There, Leonato, take her back again; Give not this rotten orange to your friend; Comes not that blood, as modest evidence, us! it is a world to see!-Well said, i'faith, neighbour To witness simple virtue? Would you not swear, Verges!-well, God's a good man; an two men ride of All you that see her, that she were a maid, a horse, one must ride behind; an honest soul, i'faith, By these exterior shows? But she is none: sir; by my troth heís, as ever broke bread: but, God She knows the heat of a luxurious bed: is to be worshipped: all men are not alike; alas, good neighbour! Leon. Indeed, neighbour, he comes too short of you. Dogb. Gifts, that God gives. Leon. I must leave you. Her blush is guiltiness, not modesty. Not knit my soul to an approved wanton. Leon. Dear my lord, if you, in your own proof, Have vanquish'd the resistance of her youth, And made defeat of her virginity,- Claud. I know what you would say; if I have known Smother her spirits up. No, Leonato, I never tempted her with word too large; But, as a brother to his sister, show'd Bashful sincerity, and comely love. Hero. And seem'd I ever otherwise to you? Claud. Out on thy seeming! I will write against it: You seem to me as Dian in her orb; As chaste as is the bud, ere it be blown; But you are more intemperate in your blood, That rage in savage sensuality. Hero. Is my lord well, that he doth speak so wide? D. Pedro. What should I speak? I stand dishonour'd, that have gone about To link my dear friend to a common stale. Leon. Are these things spoken? or do I but dream? [Exeunt Don Pedro, Don John, and Claudio. Bene. How doth the lady? Beat. Dead, I think;-help, uncle; Hero! why, ,Hero!-Uncle!-signior Benedick;-friar! Leon. O fate, take not away thy heavy hand! Death is the fairest cover for her shame, That may be wish'd for. Beat. How now, cousin Hero? Friar. Have comfort, lady! Leon. Dost thou look up? Friar. Yea: wherefore should she not? Leon. Wherefore? Why, doth not every earthly thing Claud. Let me but move one question to your And mine that I was proud on; mine so much, ! true. Bene. This looks not like a nuptial. F Hero. True, O God! دا Claud. Leonato, stand I here? Is this the prince? Is this the prince's brother? Leon. All this is so; but what of this, mylord? daughter; That I myself was to myself not mine, H And, by that fatherly and kindly power Valuing of her; why, she-O, she is fallen T That you have in her, bid her answer truly. Into a pit of ink! that the wide sea ( 1 1 Leon. I charge thee do so, as thou art my child. What kind of catechizing call you this? Claud. To make you answer truly to your name. With any just reproach? Claud. Marry, that can Hero; What man was hetalk'd with you yesternight Hero. I talk'd with no man at that hour, my lord. D. John. Fye, fye! they are Leon. Hath no man's dagger here a point for me? Beat. Why, how now, cousin? wherefore sink you Bene. Sir, sir, be patient! For my part, I am so attir'd in wonder, Beat. O, on my soul, my cousin is belied! Leon. Confirm'd, confirm'd! O, that is stronger made, For I have only been silent so long, Leon. Friar, it cannot be : Thou seest, that all the grace that she hath left, Hero. They know, that do accuse me; I know none: Assecretly, and justly, as your soul Than that which maiden modesty doth warrant, Maintain'd the change of words with any creature, Friar. There is some strange misprision in the princes. Bene. Two of them have the very bent of honour; The practice of it lives in John the bastard, Whose spirits toil in frame of villainies. Leon. I know not: if they speak but truth ofher, Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor fortune made such havock of my means, Friar. Pause a while, And let my counsel sway you in this case. And publish it, that she is dead indeed: Hang mournful epitaphs, and do all rites, That appertain unto a burial Leon. What shall become of this? What will this do? That what we have we prize not to the worth, And every lovely organ of her life Shall come apparell'd in more precious habit, More moving-delicate, and full of life, Into the eye and prospect of his soul, Than when she liv'd indeed :-then shall he mourn, (If ever love had interest in his liver,) And wish, he had not so accused her; No, though he thought his accusation true. Out of all eyes, tongues, minds, and injuries. Should with your body. Leon. Being that I flow in grief, The smallest twine may lead me. Friar. 'Tis well consented; presently away! Forto strangesores strangely they strain the cure. Come, lady, dieto live: this weddi wedding day, Perhaps,is but prolong'd;have patience, and endure! Beat. You have no reason, I do it freely. Bene. Surely, I do believe your fair cousin is wrong'd. that wouid right her! Bene. Is there any way to show such friendship? Beat. It is a man's office, but not your's. Bene. I do love nothing in the world so well as you; Is not that strange? Beat. As strange as the thing I know not. It were as possible for me to say, Iloved nothing so well as you; but believe me not; aud yet I lie not: I confess nothing, nor I deny nothing.-I am sorry for my cousin. Bene. By my sword, Beatrice, thou lovest me. Beat. Do not swear by it, and eat it. Bene. I will swear by it, that you love me; and I will make him eat it, that says, Ilove not you. Beat. Will you not eat your word? Bene. With no sauce that can be devised to it: I pro Beat. You dare casier be friends with me, than fight with mine enemy. Bene. Is Claudio thine enemy? Beat. Is he not approved in the height a villain, that hath slandered, scorned, dishonoured, mykinswoman? -0, that I were a man!-What! bear her in hand until they come to take hands, and then, with public accusation, uncovered slander, unmitigated ranconr,O God, that I were a man! I would eat his heart in the market-place. Bene. Hear me, Beatrice; Beat. Talk with a man out at a window? a proper saying! Bene. Nay, but, Beatrice; Beat. Sweet Hero! she is wronged, she is slandered, she is undone. Bene. Beat Beat. Princes, and counties! Surely, a princely testimony, a goodly count-confect; a sweet gallant, surely! O, that I were a man for his sake! or that I had any friend would be a man for my sake! But manhood is melted into courtesies, valour into compliment, and men are only turned into tongue, and trim ones too: he is now as valiant as Hercules, that only tells alie, and swears it:-I cannot be a man with wishing, therefore I will die a woman with grieving. Bene. Tarry, good Beatrice: by this hand, I love thee. Beat. Use it for my love some other way than swearing by it. Bene. Think you in your soul the count Claudio hath wronged Hero? Beat. Yea, as sure as I have a thought, or a soul. Bene. Enough, I am engaged, I will challenge him; I will kiss your hand, and so leave you! By this hand, Claudio shall render me a dear account! As you hear of me, so think of me! Go, comfort your cousin! I must say, she is dead; and so, farewell! SCENE II.-A Prison. Enter DOGBERRY, VERGES, and Sexton, in gowns; and suspect my years? O, that he were here to write me 阿 Make [Exit. [Exeunt. Dogb. Come, let them be opinioned. Verg. O, a stool and a cushion for the sexton! Sexton. Which be the malefactors? down-an ass!-but, masters remember, that I am an L 1 Dogb. Pray write down-Borachio.-Your's, sirrah? Con. I am a gentleman, sir, and my name is Conrade. Dogb. Write down-master gentleman Conrade.Masters, do you serve God? Con. Bora. Yea, sir, we hope. Dogb. Write down-that they hope they serve God: -and write God first; for God defend but God should gobefores before such villains! - Masters, it is proved already, that you are little better than false knaves; and it will go near to be thought so shortly. How answer you for yourselves? Con. Marry, sir, we say we are none. Dogb. A marvellous witty fellow, I assure you; but I will go about with him. Come you hither, sirrah; a word in your ear, sir; I say to you, it is thought, you are false knaves. Bora. Sir, 1 say to you, we are none. Dogb. Well, stand aside.-'Fore God, they are both in a tale. Have you writ down-that they are none? Sexton. Master constable, you go not the way to examine; you must call forth the watch, that are their accusers. Dogb. Yea, marry, that's the eftest way!-Let the watch come forth! - Masters, I charge you, in the prince's name, accuse these men! 1 Watch. This man said, sir, that Don John, the prin- Dogh. Write down-prince John a villain! - Why ass! Dogb. Pray thee, fellow, peace! I do not like thy Sexton. What heard you him say else? 2 Watch. Marry, that he had received a thousand Verg. Yea, by the mass, that it is! Sexton. What else, fellow? ACT V. SCENE I. -Before Leonato's house. Enter LEONATO and ANTONIO. [Exeunt. Ant. If you go on thus, you will kill yourself; And 'tis not wisdom, thus to second grief Against yourself. Leon. I pray thee, cease thy counsel, Which falls into mine ears as profitless As water in a sieve: give not me counsel; Nor let no comforter delight mine ear, But such a one, whose wrongs do suit with mine. Bring me a father, that so lov'd his child, Whose joy of her is overwhelm'd likemine, And bid him speak of patience; 1 Watch. And that count Claudio did mean, upon his Dogb. O villain! thou wilt be condemned into ever- Sexton. What else? Measure his woe the length and breadth of mine, But there is no such man: for, brother, men But no man's virtue, nor sufficiency, To be so moral, when he shall endure The like himself. Therefore give me no counsel: Ant. Therein domen from children nothing differ. That could endure the tooth-ach patiently: Ant. Yet bend not all the harm upon yourself: Make those, that do offend you, suffer too! Leon. There thou speak'st reason: nay, I will do so: My soul doth tell me, Hero is belied; And that shall Claudio know, so shall the prince, And all of them, that thus dishonour her. Enter Don PEDRO and CLAUDIO. Ant. Here comes the prince, and Claudio, hastily. D Pedro. Good den, good den! Claud. Good day to both of you! Leon. Hear you, my lords, D. Pedro. We have some haste, Leonato. Leon. Some haste, my lord!-well, fare you well, my Or some of us will smart for it. lord! Are you so hasty now?-well, all is one. D. Pedro. Nay do not quarrel with us, good old man. Ant. If he could right himself with quarrelling, Some of us would lie low. Claud. Who wrongs him? [Exeunt Leonato and Antonio. Enter BENEDICK. D. Pedro. See, see; here comes the man we went to seek. Claud. Now, signior! whatnews? Bene. Good day, my lord. D. Pedro. Welcome, signior! You are almost come Thou, thou dost wrong me; thou dissembler, thou:- to part almost a fray. Leon. Marry, Nay, never lay thy hand upon thy sword, I fear thee not. Claud. Wehad like to have had our two noses snapped off with two old men withont teeth. In faith, my hand meant nothing to my sword. D. Pedro. Leonato and his brother: whatthink'st thou? Had we fought, I doubt, we should have been too young for them. Leon. Tush, tush, man, never fleer and jest at me! Bene. In a false quarrel there is no true valour. I came I speak not like a dotard, nor a fool; to seek you both. As, under privilege of age, to brag What I have done being young, or what would do, Were I not old. Know, Claudio, to thy head, Claud. We have been up and down to seek thee; for we are highproof melancholy, and would fain have it beaten away. Wilt thou use thy wit? Thou hast so wrong'd my innocent child and me, Bene. It is in my scabbard: shall I draw it? That I am forc'd to lay my reverence by; And, with grey hairs, and bruise of many days Do challenge thee to trial of a man. D. Pedro. Dost thou wear thy wit by thy side? Claud. Never any did so, though very many have been beside their wit. - I will bid thee draw, as we do I say, thou hast belied mine innocent child; the minstrels; draw, to pleasure us! Thy slander hath gone through and through her heart, D. Pedro. As I am an honestman, he looks pale! Ant. Content yourself! God knows, Ilov'd my niece; head and a capon; the which if I do not carve most cuAnd she is dead, slander'd to death by villains, D. Pedro. I'll tell thee, how Beatrice praised thy wit the other day: I said, thou hadstafinewit; True, says she, a fine little one: No, said I, a great wit; Right, says she, a great gross one. Nay, said I, a good wit; Just, said she, it hurts no body: Nay, said I, the gentleman is wise; Certain, said she, a wise gentleman: Nay, said I, he hath the tongues; That I believe, said she, for he swore a thing to me on Monday night, which he on forswore Tuesday morning, there'sa double tongue: there's two tongues. Thus did she, an hour together, trans-shape thy particular virtues ; yet, |